Burial-vault.



N0.-693,3n4. Patented Feb.V n,v |902.,y

V G. B. lIKEY.,

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[Application filed May 22,'1901.) Ik manueel.; '4 sheets-snm l.

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Patented Feb. Il, |902. G. KEY. v

BURIAL VMILT.v

(Application fuel-1 may 22,1901

(No Model.)

No. 693,304. Patented Feb. n, |902.y

s. oKEv.

BumAL vAuLT.

(Application filed May 22, 1901.)

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PatenfdF'b: 12|,"ly'90v2. V a. B. oKEY.

BURILF'VAULTW {Appication filed May 22, 1901.)

(No Model.)

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WVM/momo M MQQM 1N: Nonms PETERS co., pHoro-umn., WASHINGTON. n, c.

UiNrrnn Samaras PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE B. OKEY, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO THE OKEY BURIAL VAULT COMPANY, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, A CORPO TION OF INDIANA.

BU RlAL-VAU LT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 693,304, dated February 11, 1902. Application iiled May 22, 190.1. Serial No.`61,348. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom; it. may @o7/weint:V

Be it known that I, 'GEORGE B. OKEY', a citif zen of the United States, residing at Indian-A apolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented a new and usefulv Burial-Vault, of which the followingis a specication. v

My invention relates to an improvement in waterproof, burglar-proof, and air-tight burial-vaults.

The object of my invention is to produce a cheap but rigid and impervious receptacle, more especially designed for single caskets, which receptacle may be` manufactured in sections, so as to be easily transported, and of such character that the vault may be easily erected in the grave. i

A further object of my invention is to so construct the parts that when erected there will be a continuous rigid frame extending through the walls aroundthe six sides ofthe vault, the frame being after erection entirely protected, both inside and ou t, from exposure to the air and moisture.

A further object of myinvention is to so construct the parts that the fastening means will be entirely covered, so as to absolutely prevent unwarranted opening of the vault.

The accompanying drawings illustrate'my invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved vault, a portion of the top being brokenl away and someof the fastening parts being left uncovered. Fig.' 2 is a central longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a transverse section. Fig. 4 is a perspective of one of the side sections. Fig. 5 isa perspective of the embedded rigid framework. Fig. 6 isa dell tail section. l

Inpractice the bottom and sides may be formed of one or more sections, each section being of a weight easily handled. Each sec` tion is composed of one or more longitudinal bars 7 and one or more transverse bars 8, the

bars 8 of each 'section being rigidly connected to the bars 7 of the same section and some of said barsbeing provided at one or both ends with short upturned'flngers 9. Each frame thus formed by the bars 7 and 8 is embedded in a suitable covering 10, of cement or other suitable plastic material, which may be made im pervious. The covering 10 upon the inside of each frame along each edge is made thinner, so asto form a projecting lip 11, the ends of the bars and 8 being exposed and preferably lying tlushwith the inside face of the lip. By this construction a `shoulder 12 is formed parallel with the edge at some distance therefrom, and said shoulder is slightly undercut, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. lipsll of the several sections are adapted to be placed adjacent each other, the said sections being arranged together to form an opentopped, receptacle or box having undercut.. f 65 Bars 7 and 8 of each frame are f corner grooves 13 running along the eight inner corners. so spaced that the. bars 7A of the two bottom sections abut, and the said bars 7 also aline with the bars 8 of the end sections. The bars 8, or some of the bars 8, of the bottom sec- Thev tions also aline with the lower ends'of the bars 8 of the side sections. The side and end sections are also formed at their upper. ends with a shoulder 14, which extends entirely around the upper side of the vault to receive and support the cover now to be described.

The cover may be made of one or more sections, and each section consists o fv a pair of arched transverse members 15,connected'near theirends by longitudinal members 1,6. `Members 16 are connected at one or more points between their ends by arched transversemembers17. Connected to the center of Yarches 15 is a longitudinal member 18, which-passes over arch 17. Passed under said arch 17 is a strap 19, the ends of which are secured tothe member 18 at points between arch 17 and arches 15. Secured to each arch? 15 is a tongue 20, the adjacent tongues 2O of the two cover-frames alining andbein g adapted vto be secured together by means of a strap 35 and suitable bolts. Tongues 20 of the opposite ends of the cover-frames are arranged'to aline either with one of bars 8 of the end section or with a special tongue 21, secured "to the upper bar 7 of each end section. Secured to arch members 15 are hooks or eyes 22,1511@ purpose of which will be made to appear. Each cover-frame is embedded ina plastic coating 10, with hooks22 projecting there through, a depression 23 being formed in the coating, so as to expose the tongues 20. The

`Fig. (i.

adjacent ends of the two cover-sections are overlapped in the peculiar manner shown in One of thecover-sections is formed at one end with a pair of lips 24- and 24',`lip 24 projecting from the end of lip 2i. The other cover-section is provided with a single lip 2a", which is arranged to overlap lip 2a', and thus leave a groove 25 between the two sections, the bottom of said groove being cut off from the interior of the cover by the lip 24.. The cover may be formed of a single piece, if desired; butI find it more convenient to manufacture the same in two sections in order to enable thebuilder to lower it into the grave with greater ease.

The several sections,each with its embedded frame, with portions of said frame exposed, are manufactured in a factory and are shipped separated to the cemetery. After the grave has been dug the two bottom sect-ions are placed in the grave and the abutting ends of the longitudinal bars 7 secured together by a strap 27 and bolts 28, the upper ends of the bolts lying below the upper face of the bottom. The side sections and end sections are then placed in position, the transverse members 8 of said sections being secu red together by means of anglestraps 29 and bolts 30. If desired, one of the bars or transverse members 8 may be provided with an upturned finger to take the place of the angle-strap 29; but the construction illustrated is more convenient. The longitudinal members 7 of the bottom are also secured by straps 3l to the transverse members 8 of the ends, and longitudinal members 7 of the sides are secured to the longitudinal members 7 of the ends by straps 32. The abutting ends of the longitudinal members 7 of the side sections are secured together by the straps 33. The means used to fasten the several parts together up to this point are introduced, preferably, from the inside of the vault, thus forming a continuous rigid frame binding the five sides of the vault together, said frame'beiug entirely embedded in the material of the vault, with the exception of the fastening means, which are exposed. The operators then introducea filling 34, preferably plastic, into the grooves 13, as illustrated in Fig. 2, said filling entirely covering the exposed portions of the rigid frame. After the casket has been placed in the vault the two coversections are also lowered into position by means of hooks 22, and the abutting ends thereof connected by the strap 35, which is secured to the abutting tongues 20, and the end tongues 2O are secured to the tongues 2l of the end frames. The cover is slightly smaller than the internal dimensions immediately above the shoulders 14, so as to leave a continuous groove 36 running around the cover. After the cover has been rigidly connected with the framework of the other portions of the vault grooves 36 and 25 and recesses 23 are filled with an impervious filling, preferably plastic, said lling thus sealing the vault and covering all the exposed portions of the embedded rigid frames, including the hooks 22. The frame members may be made of any suitable rigid material.

lt will be readily noticed that any suitable fastening means may be used to connect the alining members of the several rigid frames, and, if desired, a fastening means may be introduced from the exterior, the outer ends ot' such fastening means being sunk into the body of the sections and covered with an impervious material. For convenience in as sembling, however, it is preferable to make the connections from the inside as far as possible.

The top frames may be formed of comparatively light material; but because of the peculiar arrangement of strap 19 the'frame is exceedingly stiff and the arch may be made almost fiat.

It is to be noticed that the several sections are rigidly secured together and that I do not depend upon cement or other sealing filling in the joints to hold the parts together. 1

I claim as my inventionl. A burial-vaultconsisting of a number of mating sections each having a rigid frame embedded therein, and means for connecting said rigid frames so as to form a continuous rigid frame extending around all sides of the vault when the parts are assembled.

2. Aburial-vault consisting of mating sides and bottom, means for securing said parts together from the inside, a' seal covering said securing means, a cover, and a seal filling the joint between said cover and sides.

3. A burial-vault consisting of mating sides and bottom, means for securing said parts together-from the inside, a seal covering said fastening means, a cover, means for securing said cover to the sides, and a seal filling the joint between said cover and sides.

4. A burial-vault consisting of mating sides and bottom, means for securing said parts together from the inside, a plastic covering for said fastening means, a cover, means for securing said cover to the sides, and a plastic filling sealing the joint between said cover and the sides. 1

5. A burial-vault consisting of mating bottom and sides, a groove formed along each inner corner, one or more angle-straps mounted in each of said corners and connecting said sides and bottom, a sealing-filling mounted in said grooves after the parts are secured together, a cover, means for securing said cover to the sides, and a sealing-filling mounted in the joint between said cover and sides.

6. A burial-vault consisting of a series of slabs formed of plastic material and each having one or more metallic bars embedded therein, a lip extending from the edges of each slab, means mounted in each inner corner for securing the metallic bars of adjacent slabs together, a plastic covering for such means, a cover, and means for sealing said cover in. position.

IOO

IIO

7. A burial-vault consisting of a series of slabs formed of plastic material and each having one or more metallic bars embedded therein, a lip extending from the edges of each 5 slab, means mounted in each inner corner for securing the metallic bars of adjacent slabs together, a cover, and means for sealing said `cover in position.

8. A burial-vault consisting of a series of xo slabs formed of plastic material and each having one or more metallic bars embedded therein, and means for connecting adjacent portions of such metallic bars when assembling the slabs. 9. An embedded frame for the cover of a burial-vault, said frame consisting of a' pair of arched transverse members,longitudinal members connecting said arched members, an intermediate arched member connecting the zo longitudinal members, between said pair of arched members, a .third longitudinal member connecting the end arched members and passing upon one side of the intermediate arch, and a strap secured at its ends to said third longitudinal member and passing upon the opposite side of said intermediate arch.

10. An embedded framefor the cover of a burial-vault, said frame consisting of a pair of transverse members, longitudinal members longitudinal members between said pair of transverse members, a third longitudinal member connecting the said pair of transverse ymembers and passing upon one side of the lintermediate member, and a strap secured at its ends to said third longitudinal member and passing uponthe opposite side of the saidintermediate member.

11. A cover for a burial-vault, consisting of 4o two sections, the adjacent ends of said sec tions being formed onewith a pair of lips, one lip at a greater depth from the top than the other, and the other section beingprovided with a single lip arranged to mate with the lowermost lip of the first section, the arrangement being such that a seal-receiving groove is formed between the adjacent edges. of thesections the bottom of said groove being cut oi from the interior of the cover by 5o the lowermost lip.

` GEORGE B. OKEY.- p

Witnesses: y

ARTHUR; M. Hoon, BERTHA M. BALLARD. 

